Ottawa needs a comprehensive strategy for Canada-India relations

{mosimage}Ottawa, Canada – August 15, 2007 – India celebrates 60 years of independence. This occasion offers Canada an opportunity to reevaluate its relationship with one of history’s oldest continuing civilizations, a nation that is the world’s largest pluralistic democracy, and a major Asian military and economic power.

Like Canada, India inherited its parliamentary democracy, common law, civic administration and knowledge of English from its period as a British dependency. Despite having much in common with India, Canada has been slow to expand relations with the country, focusing more on its relations with China. This emphasis is reflected in the disproportionate extent of Canadian Government programs, civic engagement, trade, bilateral agreements and ministerial visits aimed at China, and a blinkered approach toward India.

At the United Nations, Canada must make clear its support for India’s UN Security Council bid. Britain, Japan, Brazil and other democratic countries press hard for a Council seat for the nation that should be rewarded as a model for the emerging democracies of the world.

Canada’s failure to join India and other democratic nations at the UN Democracy Caucus remains disappointing, considering the government’s claim to give priority in its foreign policy to democratic values. Ottawa’s disinclination to engage in civil nuclear cooperation with India, is an economically and politically shortsighted approach. Indeed, this stance weakens Canada’s clout with India and undermines hope for a free trade agreement, bilateral prime ministerial visits, and the political and economic prospects associated with related exchanges.

Canada all but ignores the state of Gujarat, one of India’s most economically-powerful states. Ottawa has no senior political or diplomatic contacts with the jurisdiction, and should rectify this situation without delay.

Today, the United States, Britain, and other global players actively pursue and embrace India. All the more reason why Canada cannot, through inattention, afford to leave the impression that it regards the subcontinent’s burgeoning giant as a junior member of the global community. India is changing, and the world is changing with it.

Ottawa needs a comprehensive India strategy that grasps the initiative and is serious about engaging Delhi on matters of common concern, including geopolitics, trade, education, culture, defence and the promotion of our shared social and democratic values.

The Canadian Coalition for Democracies urges the Harper government to reevaluate its relations with India. Ottawa must move meaningfully, on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, to embrace India as a sister democracy, a fellow member of the Commonwealth, and a responsible economic-military power in Asia. David Harris is the Senior Fellow for National Security at the Canadian Coalition for Democracies.
Source: http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=3273&cid=9&sid=0